Street-sweeping machine.



V. F. PRETOR TTS.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILFD MAR-24.1908. $326,709, Patented June 29, 1909.

'nucutor 5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

V. F. PRBTORIUS.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.24,1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Suuenfotm 1 u I n n I m I I J V. P. PRETORIUS.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.24. 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

6 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

\2 o o m N i W V. F. PRETORIUS.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1908.

926,709. Patented June 29,1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. glvwenfoz J0 V. F. PRBTORIUS.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.24, 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

5 SHEETSSHEBT 5.

PATENT l 1* I CE.

lIlU.

STREE T-SWEEPING MA CHINE Application filed March 24. 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it l(l10\\']1 that I, VALnNTrvn F. Pin-m- RIIs. a citizen of the l nitcd. States, residing at Canal Dover, in the county of 'luscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useiu l Impro vements in Strcct-Snceping Machines, of which the l'ollowin e is a specilication, reterence being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in street sweeping machines, and it consists of the novel teatures of construction and the combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter fully described and claimed.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which may be propelled either by a motor or by horse power and which will effectively sweep up dust and dirt and convey the same to a collecting box which may be conveniently emptied from time to time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character having an improved means for mounting: and adjusting the sweeping brush or roll.

A further object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of machines of this character and to provide one which will be strong and. durablc. conveni nt and easy to handle, and

cll'ectiyc in accmnplishing its intended pur- P050.

The above and other objects ol the invention are attained in its preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying (,lrawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved street sweeper; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same; Fig. 33 is a top plan View, parts being broken away and in section; Fig. 4- is a front end elevation, with parts in section, showing the brake device and the water sprinkling device; and Figs. 5, (S, 7, S, and J are sectional views taken, rcspe tivcly, on the planes indicated by the lines 5 5, (i -(i. 7 7, Sb, and 9% in Fig. 1.

My improved street sweeper comprises a substantially rectangular body or l'rame 1 having side beams 2 connected by suitable cross bars or beams. The body is supported at its front by steering wheels I and at its rear by driving whccls l. The l'ront wheels are journalcd upon the front axle 5 which is conncctcd to the body by a king; bolt 6 and a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 423,005.

: lil'lh wheel or turn table 7. the last mentioned parts being constructed and arrairejcd as more clearly shown in Fig. To permit the. l machine to be operated by horse power a l suitable socket 34 is carried by the front axle l for thc reception of a dral't tongue or pole. 1 The rear wheels 4 are journaled upon a rear l aXlO 9 rigidly connected by truss bars 10 to l the rear portion of the frame 1.

\Vhen the machine is to be driven by a gasolenc engine or any other form of motor 11, the latter is mounted upon the rear portion of the body 1 and is connected by gearing to the rear wheels 4 which have upon their peripheries or rims transverse ribs 12 to prevent them from slipping. The shaft of the motor 11 has upon one end a fly Wheel and upon its other end a transmission gear 13 01'' any suitable form and construction. As illustrated, said transmission gear is provided with a sprocket 14 and with two operating levers 15, 16. The lever 15 is adapted to throw said gear into and out of operation and is connected by a rod 17 to a hand lever 18. The other lever 16 is adapted to control the reverse portion of the transmission gear 13 and is connected by a rod 19 to a hand lever 20. Said hand lovers are arranged within convenient reach of the operator and provided with the usual hand controlled pawl and ratchet locking, devices. The sprocket 14 is connected by a sprocket chain 21' to a sprocket wheel 22 fixed to a transverse shaft 23 suitably journaled upon the frame or body of the machine. ncctcd to the shaft 23 are two gears 25 which mesh with gears 26 suitably journaled upon the frame or body and adapted to mesh with cog whet-ls or gears 27 arranged upon the in nor faces of the rear drive. wheels -11. Each ol said gears 27 has a toothed rim connected by spokes 27 to a hub 27 which is bolted to the hub of the wheel 4. Said toothed rim of the gear 27 is provided upon one side with l a projecting flange 28 which latter has projecting cars 29 which are bolted to the rim of the wheel 4. The spokes of the gear and the ears 29 may be reinforced by strengthening webs, as illustrated.

My improved sweeping apparatus which is mounted on the body 1 comprises a rotary 1 sweeping brush or roll 30,1111 inclined chute 31. and an cndlcss elevator 152 which conveys i dirt and dust swept by the brush upon the lower part of the chute up the latter and into a collecting box or receptacle 33. brush 30 is disposed transversely adjacent to the rear wheels and may be of any suitable form and construction, but 1 preferably make it of a c lindrical core of wood coniosed of two half-sections 34 having steel liristles radiating from them. The core sections 34 are formed with opposing centrally disposed longitudinal grooves to receive a squared shaft 35 and are retained upon the latter by several removable sectional cla1np ing bands 36, as clearly shown in the drawings. By constructing and mounting the brush in this manner it will be seen that it may be readily removed from its shaft and replaced by a new one without removing the shaft from its bearings or hangers.

The brush shaft 35 carries, adjacent its ends, gears or pinions 37 which mesh with the cog gears 27 on the rear wheels 4, thereby causing the brush to be revolved in the reversed direction to that of the rotation of said wheels. A pawl and ratchet connection is provided between the gears 37 and the shaft 35. Each of these pawl and ratchet devices consists of a plurality of spring pressed pawls pivoted to one of said gears and adapted to mesh with ratchet notches 39 formed in the shaft 35,. as clearly shown in the drawin s.

The brush shaft 35 is mounted so that it may be adjusted toward and from the ground or street to com ensate for wear. This mounting is effecte by providing on the opposite sides of the body two rear hanger bars or links 40 having their upper ends pivoted at 41 and their lower ends formed with bearings to receive the reduced ends of the shaft 35. I also provide a pair of front hanger and adjusting bars or links 42 also formed at their lower ends with bearings to receive the reduced ends of the shaft 35. The upper ends of the forward bars 42 are connected by across rod 43 which may be placed in any one of a longitudinal series of ee er seats 44 formed in a plate 45 on both of t e side bars of the body 1. Said cross bar 43 is adapted to be secured in its adjusted position by locking plates 46 also formed with notches and ivoted at one of their ends at 47. The 0t er end of each plate 46 is adapted to be secured by a bolt or other removable fastening 48. It will be seen that as the bristles 3O wear away the rod 43 is adjusted rearwardly to lower the brush and cause it to properly contact the street.

For the purpose of throwing the brush out of gear I provide means for elevating and supporting the rod 43 after its locking plate 46 has been unfastened. This means comprises two chains 49 connected to the rod at their lower ends and having their upper ends connected to and wound upon a cross shaft 50 journaled in suitable bearings on brackets 51 and having at one end a hand wheel 52 The and a ratchet wheel 53. the latter being;

adapted to be engaged by a locking pawl 54.

The chute 31 is inclined upwardly and forwardly and is constructed of sheet metal and has upright side flanges 55. Its intermc diate portion is preferably strengthened by cross barsand its upper end is pivotally hung by bending it, as shown at 56, around a transverse hanger rod 57 arranged u .on the body 1. at the rear edge of the dust or 33. The lower rear end of the chute is curved to fit up close'to the brush and the side flanges of said end of the chute are shaped to receive the ends of the brush between themv This lower rear end of the chute is supported from the ground or street by caster wheels 58 journaled in bearings on a cross bar 59 secured to the bottom of the chute. For the purpose of raising the lower ends of the chute off of the ground I provide upon its op iosite sides chains 60 having their upper en s connected to and wound upon a transverse shaft 61 provided with a crank handle 62 and a pawl and ratchet locking device 65. The dirt and dust brushed upon the curved lower end of the chute by the brush 30 is carried upwardly through the chute by the lower stretch of the endless carrier or elevator 32, which latter consists of sprocket chains connected by angle metal cross bars 64. The latter have one of their flanges projecting at right angles from the sprocket chains and are adapted to engage the dirt upon the chute and move it upwardly through the same. The lower portions of the sprocket chains pass over sprocket wheels 65 arrangedon a transverse shaft in suitable bearings at the lower end of the chute and alsoover sprocket wheels upon a transverse shaft 66 journaled in suitable bearings upon the side beams of the body 1 and connected by meshing gears 67 to a similar transverse shaft 68. The latter has upon one of its ends a sprocket wheel'which is connected by a sprocket chain 69 to a driving sprocket wheel 70 bolted to the hub of one of the rear wheels 4. It will thus be seen'th at the endless elevator will be driven from the rear wheels.

The dust collecting box 33 has a bottom composed of two doors 71 hinged at 72 to drop downwardly. Said doors are raised and supported in their closed position by chains 73 having their upper ends fixed to and wound upon a transverse shaft 74 which is provided with a hand wheel 75 and a pawl and ratchet locking device 76. The top of the boX 33 is closed by an elevated hood or casing 77 in the rear side of which is an opening closed by a screen 78 and in the front side of which is an opening 7 9. The latter may be opened by the operator when he desires to inspdect the mechanism within the casing or Arranged above and in rear of the brush 30 is a rotary fan 80 mounted on a transverse above and slightlv in rear of the. brush and in pile of dirt without the latter interfering with the lpan.

While have shown and described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention it advance of the depending portion of the cas- I ing or hood 83 so that it will blow the dust forwardly and upwardly upon the (hate it] and into the dust box 33.

For the purpose of steering the wheel I prowill be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction set forth and that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the s irit or sacrificing any of the advantages 0 the invention.

llaving thus described my invention what 1. claim is:

.1 In a street sweeper, the combination of a body having supporting wheels, an inclined vide an upright steering bar 87 having at its upper end a hand wheel and at its lower end chains 88 which connect it to the front axle.

Mounted upon the front of the body 1 is a sprinkling device comprising a transversely disposed water tank 89 provided with an out let pipe 90 which leads to a transverse sprinl-iler head 91. The valve 92 in the pipe 90 is controlled by a rod 93 which has its upper end suitably connected to a lever 94 pivoted intermediate its ends, as shownv The lower end of the lever is connected by a link 95 to a treadle 96 arranged within reach of the operator who sits on a seat 97 on top of the hood or casing 77. A spring 95 is adapted to actuate the lever 94 to close the valves 92.

The top of the machine is preferably provided with a cover 9!).

in Fig. 4 of the drawings 1 have shown a brake device comprising two transversely disposed brake levers l ()1 pivoted intermediate their ends in brackets 102 and having at their outer ends shoes lob to engage the front. wheels. The inner ends of the brake lovers are united by a chain 104 and they are actuated downwardlyto elevate the brake shoes by coil springs 105. The. chain 104 passes over a guide pulley 106 and is attached to and wound upon a transverse shaft 107 con nected by bevel gears 108 to an upright op erating shaft 105) having a hand wheel at its upper end. ratchet locking device 110.

In operation, it will be seen that when my improved st reet sweeper is driven by a motor the operator or driver can control all of its various parts while sitting upon the seat J7. Power from the engine is used to drive the rear wheels 4 to propel the machine and from these rear wheels power taken to drive the brush, the elevator, and the fan. 'hen the dust. box becomes tilled it may be readily dumped by dropping its doors or bottom sections and by turning the machine sharply it may be moved away 'fi'olll the deposited chute, a dust box at the upper end of the latter, a rotary brush at the lower end of the.

chute, a casing or hood in rear of and above This shaft lot) has a' pawl and i the brush, and a rotary fan arranged in said casing or hood in rear of and above the brush for directing the. dust from the latter up the chute and into the dust box.

2. In a street sweeper, the combination of a body having supporting Wheels, an inclined chute, a dust box at the up er end of the lat ter, a rotary brush at the ower end of said chute, a rotary fan arranged above and in rear of the brush, a motor upon the body,

- means for driving the Wheelsoif the body from said motor, and means for driving the brush, elevator and fan from said wheels.

3. In a street sweeping machine, the combination of a body, wheels for the latter, a rotary brush, a shaft for the latter, an adjusting plate havin notches or seats, brush adjusting links and a cross bar connecting the last mentioned links and adapted to engage the seats or notches in said adjusting plate.

4. In a street swee ing machine, the combination of a wheele body, a rotary brush, a shaft for the latter, pivoted hanger links for the shaft, adjusting links, a cross bar connecting said adjusting links, means for adjusting the cross bar forwzu'dly and rearwardly and means for raising and lowerlng the cross bar.

5. [n a street sweeping machine, the combination of a wheeler body, a rotary brush,

= a shaftfor the latter, pivoted hanger links for the shaft, adjusting links, a cross bar connecting said adjusting links, means for adjusting the. cross bar forwardly and rearwardly, a winding shaft and a chain connecting the cross bar to said winding shaft.

In testimony whereof l hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VALENTINE F. PREIORIUS.

Witnesses:

\"rc. WENTZ, JAs. A. Bane. 

